Steering device for automobiles.



No. 759,090. PATENTED MAY 3, 1904.

P. A. GARDNER.

STEERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1903. 7

NO MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

WITNESSES INVENTOB A TTORMEYS THE "cams Pawns co. mcmmumo. wmnluowu. a.c.

No. 759,090. PATENTED MAY 3,- 1904.,

F. A. GARDNER.

STEERING DEVICE FOR AUTUMOBILES.

APPLIUATION FILED SEPT. 22, 1203.

N0 MODEL. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES mm: r02

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NlTED STATES Patented May 3, 1904.

PATENT OFFICE.

STEERING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Lette s Pa ent No. 759,090, dated Ma; 3,1904.

Application filed September 22, 1908. erial No. 174,171. (No model.)

To in, 1077/0771 it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. GARDNER, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Catskill, in the county of Greene and State of NewYork, have invented certain new and useful improvements in SteeringDevices for Automobiles and other Road-Vehicles, of which the followingis a specification such as will enable those skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

The object of this invention is to provide improved means for steeringor guiding an automobile or other road-vehicle, by means of which suchvehicle may be safely and easily turned or guided and whereby theguidingwheels may be locked straight ahead whenever desired; and withthese and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction, combination, and arrangement of parts hereinafterdescribed and claimed.

The invention is fully disclosed in the following specification, ofwhich the accompanying drawings form a part, in which the separate partsof my improvement are designated by suitable reference characters ineach of the views, and in which-- Figure 1 is a plan view of the frontaxle of an automobile or other road-vehicle and the connected wheels andprovided with my improvement; Fig. 2, a similar view showing the partsin a different position and showing a part of the construction brokenaway; Fig. 3, a transverse section on the line 3 3 of Fig. 1; Fig. 4, atransverse section on the line at at of Fig. 1, and Fig. 5 a transversesection on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1.

In the drawings forming part of this specification I have shown at a afront axle of an automobile or other road-vehicle, and this axle in theform of construction shown is rectangular in cross-section and isprovided at each end with a fork a and the forks a receive the angularheads or blocks 7), with which the wheel-spindles are connected. Theheads or blocks 6 are pivoted in the forks a by vertically-arranged pins6 and said heads or blocks and the corresponding spindles are adapted toswing in a horizontal plane, and the heads or blocks are also eachprovided with a backwardly-directed arm 6 Secured to the back of theaxle a and centrally thereof is a support 0, having a transverse recessc parallel with the axle a, and a forwardly and backwardly directedrecess which ranges transversely of the said axle, and passing throughthe recess is a bar 6!, the opposite ends of which are pivoted to thearms I), as shown at (Z and the ends of'the bar of are preferably curvedbackward slightly, as clearly shown in Figs. 1 and Q.

Mounted in the forwardly and backwardly ranging recess in the top of thesupport 0 is a cam-plate a, the bottom surface of which is flush withthe top surface of the axle a, and said cam-plate also rests on the bar(Z. The cam-plate c is also provided with a cam slot or opening 0 whichranges diagonally thereof, but the central portion of which is parallelwith the sides of said'plate, and secured to the bar (Z, centrallythereof, or formed integrally with said bar is a cam-pin j, which fitsin the slot or opening c and is adapted to move therein.

Secured to the top of the support 0 and to the front axle a is a plate9, the connection of said plate with said support and the front axlebeing made by means of screws, bolts, or similar devices and in practicethe rear end of this plate is rigidly secured in the front or frameworkof the vehicle, and said rear end extends backwardly of the front axle apredetermined distance. The plate g is bent upwardly centrally thereof,as shown at g in Fig. 3, and the rear end thereof extended backwardlyparallel with the front end thereof, as shown at f in Fig. 3, and saidrear end portion of the plate is provided at its rear end with adownwardly-directed plate member and forwardly thereof with aclownwardly-directed plate member g, and secured to or connected withthe member g in any desired manner is a pin, shaft, or bolt which passesbackwardly through the plate member 9 and on which is placed a spiralspring which normally serves to force the plate member forwardly. Theplate member g" is free to slide on the bottom of the rear end g of theplate 9 and is held in place by the pin, shaft, or bolt 7 and the topedge of the plate member 7" is provided with a recess in which the rearend 9 of the plate g fits, as shown at g" in Figs. 1 and 2. The forward'movement of the plate member 9 is limited by acam-block it, which issecured to the lower end of a shaft 7?, which passes upwardly throughthe plate g and is provided at its upper end with a crank or handle hwhich is detachable therefrom in the ordinary manner, and that portionof the shaft b above the plate g is preferably inclosed by a sleeve 7?.The cam-block it is in the form of a half-circle, and the plate member gnormally presses on the straight side thereof, as indicated in Figs. 1and 3, and connected with the said cam-block, near one of the cornersthereof, is a link bar i, one end of which is connected with thecam-plate 0, these connections being made, respectively, at 2' and i andthe rear side of the support 0 is provided with a segmental recess 0 tofacilitate the connection of the link bar 71 with the cam-plate c andthe operation of said link bar.

When the parts are in the position shown in Fig. l, the wheels j arelocked straight ahead, the cam-pin f being in the central portion of thecam slot or opening 0 in the camplate 6, which portion of said slot oropening is parallelwith the longitudinal center of the vehicle, or atright angles to the axle (0. Whenever it is desired to turn the vehicleor to turn the wheels of the front axle a into the position shown inFig. 2, the crank or handle it is operated to throw the cam-block itinto the position shown in Fig. 2, and in this operation the cam-plate 0is forced forwardly and the cam-pin f, moving in the slot or opening (Zforces the bar (Z to the left and turns the wheels into the positionshown in said figure. WVhen the crank or handle is turned backward intothe position shown in Fig. 1, the parts again assume the position inwhich the wheels are straight ahead, and in this position the wheels arelocked until the crank or handle it is again manipulated, and if thecrank or handle it be turned to the left the wheels j will be turned inthe opposite direction from that shown in Fig. 2.

It will be understood that the parts are normally held in the positionshown in Fig. 1 by the spring g and they can only be thrown out of thisposition or the wheels 1' can only be turned into another position inorder to change the course of the vehicle by the manipulation of thecrank or handle it as hereinbefore described.

My improved steering or guiding mechanism for automobiles and othervehicles may be connected with the structural part of the truck or frameof the vehicle in any desired manner,

and it will also be apparent that the plate g,

which is shown in the drawings as comprising the members 9 and g, to thelatter of which the plate member g is rigidly connected and inconnection with which the plate member g, which constitutes simply amovable slide, operates,

may be constructed or formed in any desired manner and may be secured inthe truck or Vehicle frame in any desired position or by any preferredmeans, the exact form of these parts and their method of constructionand the means by which they are supported and secured into positionbeing immaterial.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

I. The combination with the front axle of an automobile or otherroad-vehicle, of heads or blocks pivoted horizontally in the ends ofsaid axle and provided with wheel-spindles, said heads or blocks beingalso provided with backwardly-directed arms, an operating-bar arrangedrearwardly of said axle and substantially parallel therewith and theends of which are pivotally connected with said arms, atransversely-movable cam-plate mounted over said axle and said bar andprovided with a cam slot or opening which ranges diagonally thereof andthe central portion of which is at right angles to said axle and bar,said bar being also provided with a cam-pin movable in said slot oropening, and means for moving said cam-plate transversely of said axleand bar, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination with the front axle of an automobile or otherroad-vehicle, of heads or blocks pivoted horizontally in the ends ofsaid axle and provided with wheel-spindles, said heads or blocks beingalso provided with backwardly-directed arms, an operating-bar arrangedrearwardly of said axle and substan* tially parallel therewith and theends of which are pivotally connected with said arms, atransversely-movable cam-plate mounted over said axle and said bar andprovided with a cam slot or opening which ranges diagonally thereof andthe central portion of which is at right angles to said axle and bar,said bar being also provided with a cam-pin movable in said slot oropening, and means for moving said camplate transversely of said axleand bar, comprising a cam-block pivotally supported rearwardly of saidaxle and bar and in operative connection with said cam-plate, avertically-arranged shaft connected with said cam-block and means fornormally holding said parts so that the cam-pin will rest in the centralportion of the slot or opening in the cam plate, substantially as shownand described.

3. The combination with the front axle of an automobile or'otherroad-vehicle, of heads or blocks pivoted horizontally in the ends ofsaid axle and provided with wheel-spindles, said heads or blocks beingalso provided with backwardly-directed arms, an operating'bar arrangedrearwardly of said axle and substantially parallel therewith and theends of which are pivotally connected with said arms, atransversely-movable cam-plate mounted over said axle and said bar andprovided with a central portion of the slot or opening in the cam-plate,comprisinga spring-pressed member which bears on one side of thecam-block, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention 1 have signed myname, in presence of the subscribing" witnesses, this 21st day ofSeptember, 1903.

FREDERICK A. GARDNER.

Witnesses:

F. A. STEWART, C. E. MULRIEANY.

